OUTBREAK OF NEONATAL KLEBSIELLA-SEPTICEMIA AT THE UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE-HOSPITAL, IBADAN, NIGERIA - APPRAISAL OF PREDISPOSING FACTORS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The report concerns an outbreak of neonatal Klebsiella septicaemia at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between October and November 1991, Mortality, 35.7%, was higher in the preterm babies than in the term babies (P<0.05). The important predisposing factors to in fection identified were birth asphyxia, necessitating active resuscita tion, prematurity, prolonged rupture of the membranes and maternal int rapartum pyrexia, The Klebsiella species isolated from the babies and the hospital environment during the outbreak were of the multiple drug resistant type, Preventive measures and the need for a continual bact eriological surveillance are highlighted.